Pakistan is set to face Australia in the 3rd T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Having already secured the series with dominant performances, Pakistan will be aiming for a clean sweep against a struggling Australian side.
Pakistan has displayed exceptional form in the first two T20Is, winning the first match by 22 runs and the second by a convincing 90 runs. The hosts are riding high on confidence and view this final T20I as an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. A series whitewash would provide a significant morale boost as they head into the marquee tournament.
Australia, on the other hand, has had a disappointing series so far. The team is using this tour to experiment with different combinations and provide their players with valuable match practice in subcontinent conditions before the World Cup. Despite their struggles, the visitors will be keen to avoid a series whitewash and finish the tour on a positive note.
The key battleground in this series has been the spin department, with Pakistan's spinners proving to be the decisive factor. The Australian batsmen have appeared clueless against the quality spin bowling of the home side. The pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium has traditionally favored spin, and this series has been no different. Batsmen will need to be patient and look to capitalize on the turn to score runs.
The weather forecast for Lahore indicates a chilly day with temperatures ranging from 8 to 20 degrees Celsius and no rain expected.
Predicted Playing XIs: While the official lineups will be confirmed at the toss, here are the predicted playing XIs based on current form and team strategies:
- Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed.
- Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Matthew Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa.
Match Details:
- Match: Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd T20I
- Date and Time: Sunday, February 1, 2026, 4:30 PM IST
- Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Broadcast and Live Streaming: Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV (App & Website).
With the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, both teams will be looking to gain valuable insights and momentum from this final T20I. Pakistan will aim to continue their dominance and complete a series whitewash, while Australia will be desperate to salvage some pride and avoid a clean sweep.